§ Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy in respect of the recommendation in the Overseas Development Administration's fundamental expenditure review on agencies receiving £750,000 or more per year from the joint funding scheme; what considerations led the Overseas Development Administration to select the threshold figure; and what considerations were given to lower thresholds. [12242]
§ Mr. HanleyThe figure of £750,000 was selected after considering a range of options. No particular significance attaches to the figure: it simply produced a limited number of non-governmental organisations who had been major recipients of joint funding scheme funds over a sustained period and with whom we intend to begin exploring the possibilities of moving to block grant arrangements.
§ Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if money disbursed via the joint funding scheme will, following the Overseas Development Administration's fundamental expenditure review, be limited to countries within the Overseas Development Administration's new focus. [12255]
§ Mr. HanleyWe do not anticipate any significant change in the geographical cover of the joint funding scheme as a result of the fundamental expenditure review.